Introduction to Roadshow and Audience Test scenes

History: (pre June 5, 2007) Twentieth Century Fox began editing
the 195 minute Roadshow version of the Sand Pebbles soon after its
December 20, 1966 premiere at the Rivoli and eventually pared the film
down to what is now referred to as the "theatrical" 182 minute version.
This was accomplished without any input or consent from Robert Wise.
Thanks to the contributions of fans like Jean-Maurice Tremblay
(JMT)...Geoff Toole (GT) and Stuart Gray (SG) a list of missing scenes
was established. Video files were contributed by Cyrille (France) and
Thomas Booch (Germany) to prove that the scenes still existed in other
countries.

On June 5, 2007 Fox finally released the 70mm Roadshow version of
the film on DVD, however, after 40 years of neglect the Roadshow print
was badly faded and perhaps beyond the point of restoration. Time will
tell.

In addition, there was also a 200 minute audience test version of
the film that was previewed in Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Dallas
prior to the movie's official premiere in New York City. A few copies
of this longer version were distributed to roadshow venues in cities
like Detroit and San Francisco. Surprisingly, a fan has reported that
this extended 200 minute version was shown on a New York City
television station in the 1970's. Description of these audience test
scenes are also included here. - CG

OPENING SHOT (Audience test) - An establishing shot of a 1925
battleship in the Shanghai Harbor. Jake Holman packing his sea bag, has
some dialogue, salutes the OOD (Officer of the Deck) and leaves the
ship. (The battleship is seen very
briefly in the DVD movie trailer). (GT) (This opening scene is
described on pages 1 and 2 of the early
version of the Sand Pebbles script.) A brief history of these scenes shot aboard the USS Texas in August 1966 are provided here.

CROW'S NEST BAR (Audience test) - The scene in the bar when
Holman points to the prostitute and asks if she likes him and she
answers in pigeon English and Holman tells the proprietor "the uniform
gets them every time". After that, there is a scene where they are
going upstairs and they are shot almost in silhouette. It was very sad
and illustrative of the life that both of them were leading and it was
among the scenes that the wiz kids at the studio decided the film could
do without. (Photo)
(QB)

SEW SEW SCENE (Roadshow) - Part of the introductory sequences
before the repel boarders drill where Holman gets to know the crew.
Holman hangs out with Frenchy whom he met the night before. A Chinese
coolie interrupts them with his measurement kit, it is Sew Sew. Sew Sew
checks Holman out, and says 'You like P'tocki... me makee plenty whites
(uniforms)...' Holman does not want plenty whites: 'No, you makee blues
(jeans), plenty blues'. Holman turns to Frenchy and explains: 'Whites
are no good for the engine room'. Frenchy responds: 'Oh, on this boat,
everybody stands guard duty, even the engine crew... you'll get used to
it'. Holman looks at Frenchy incredulously: '....what?!'. The scene
lasts about 1 minute. (Photo)(Screenshot) (JMT) (This scene is described
on pages 26 and 27 of the early revision of
the Sand Pebbles script - CG)

UNDER THE FLOOR PLATES (Roadshow) - This is an extended version
of the floor plate scene in the movie. After Holman orders Pohan (over
Chein's objections) to pull up a floor plate we see him moving
methodically underneath the floor inspecting the bilge. The extended
scene reinforces Holman's love for machinery and it is always
fascinating to watch McQueen work with his props no matter what they
happen to be. (This scene is described on page 31
of the early revision of the Sand Pebbles script - CG)

LOCAL BANDITS (Roadshow) - Up the river for the first time.
Holman in the engine room notices crankshaft problems (alignment) and
goes up to the bridge to tell Captain. "As long as we move and smoke
boils out of our stack..." Holman on the way down hears gunshots; hides
behind the stack. An officer explains: "Bandits, local bandits... they
never do anything but shoot holes in the stack". (The local bandits shoot from a small island
in the middle of the river...briefly seen in the DVD movie trailer).
(JMT) (This scene is described on pages 39 and 40
of the early revision of the Sand Pebbles script - CG)

STOPPED FOR REPAIRS (Roadshow) - After Chien's accident, Holman
goes down to make the repair himself. Collins and Holman eye each
other, Holman takes a tool and goes to work... then there is a left to
right "wipe" to finished repair. That cut to finished is missing; in
the DVD we go straight to arrival in Changsha. (JMT) (This scene is
described on pages 44 and 45 of the early
revision of the Sand Pebbles script - CG)

HAMMER SCENE (Audience test) - After the bearing assembly was
taken apart, Jake realizes that the crankshaft is bent and has to be
straightened or the new bearing will go bad again. It is considered an
impossible task without dry-docking the ship and removing the shaft.
But Jake says he could do it. Pohan assists and it was while working
together that they begin to develop their relationship. Jake rotated
the shaft (or heated the shaft - I don't remember exactly) and Pohan
"hammered" on the shaft. They developed a rhythm with Jake hollering,

"Hammer...........Hammer...........Hammer"

and Pohan hammering in sync. It was quite an extensive part of the
original movie.

You remember in the fight scene, Jake is pleading with Pohan to "hit
em, hit em". But then he says "hammer, hammer", and Pohan begins
"hammering" on Stawski's stomach in a very unorthodox, overhand style.
It is a pivotal moment, for the fight then begins to swing in Pohan's
favor.

Also, reference is made to the amazing accomplishment of straightening
the shaft when Crenna tells Jake he must stand deck watch .."no matter
what we do or how good we may do it".

The scene also further elaborates Jake's love and knowledge of the
engine and was very interesting from an engineering standpoint. Maybe
that was why it was excised - not sufficiently romantic, not necessary
to advance plot, maybe too suggestive that Jake might be more
interested in machines than humans. Anyway, I loved it and wish they'd
have left it in. (SG)

AFTER THE BET (Roadshow) - Following the scene where Holman and
Stawski have agreed on the boxing match, Frenchy argues with Holman
outside of the crew's quarters. (Cyrille) (This scene is described on pages 71 and 72 of the early revision of the
Sand Pebbles script - CG)

LOOKING FOR JAMESON (Roadshow) - When the San Pablo arrives at
Paoshan to evacuate the missionaries at China Light, Jameson is not on
the pier with the others. This extended sequence has more dialog
between Lop Eye Shing and the Chinese soldiers on the pier. (Cyrille)
(This scene is described on pages 85 and 86
of the early revision of the Sand Pebbles script - CG)

REQUESTING TRANSFER (Roadshow) - Just before the movie
intermission, Holman is been summoned to Lt. Collins' cabin. Collins
asks Holman to request a transfer or he will. One line of dialog has
been deleted from this scene. (Cyrille) (The deleted line is described
on page 105 of the early revision of the Sand
Pebbles script - CG)

ESCORTED BACK (Roadshow) - After Lt. Bordelles and his detail are
escorted back to the Changsha dock by Major Lin's troops there is a
quick cut to their arrival at the San Pablo. This extended sequence
shows the men marching down to the motorpan, their trip back and
reaction shots on the San Pablo. (Cyrille)

MARRYING MAILY (Roadshow) - American priests will not conduct the
wedding ceremony; the Chinese also refuse because neither Frenchy nor
Maily have families... they are like branches fallen off a tree: they
can't splice them together.

In the movie, before the birdcage scene, Holman is seen talking to
Shirley in front of the house for missionaries in Changsha about the
marriage, she answers something like: '... no, since they have no
families, ...'. Then she asks him if he knows Changsha well... he says
yes... then she asks him to take her on a tour of the city... next
image: a kid and a birdcage. (JMT) (This scene is described on pages 120 and 121 of the early version of the
Sand Pebbles script - CG)

ANOTHER DOLLAR (Audience test) - The San Pablo crew is being
pressured to pay more money to keep the coolies from deserting ship.
Holman lies in his bunk studying the China Light machinery booklets
while part of the crew gathers around the mess table to discuss this
new development. A photo from this scene.
(This scene is described on pages 128 and 129
of the early version of the Sand Pebbles script - CG)

DINNER WITH SHIRLEY (Roadshow) - The scene I miss most. Nice
restaurant, snow flakes through the windows... They eat and chat...
politics. "What would you say if Chinese gunboats were patrolling the
Mississippi river?" she asks. Jake responds "I'd like to see that".
This is followed by the marriage scene between Frenchy and Maily. (I do
recall a nice music cue
for the dinner scene and a photo
from this scene is included in the Italian lobby cards) (JMT) (This
scene is described on pages 129 and 130 of
the early revision of the Sand Pebbles script - CG)

STAY CLEAR OF THE MEN (Roadshow) - As Holman is preparing to go
ashore to the consulate Franks breaks up an argument between two
sailors. After Collins instructs Bordelles to wear a sidearm there is
additional dialog about the need to stay away from the men. (This scene
is described on pages 145 and 146 of the
early revision of the Sand Pebbles script - CG)

FIRE (Roadshow) - During the battle on the river, the San Pablo
is temporarily stopped by a fire on the rear top deck. Holman uses a
knife to cut out the cover of the lifeboat which is on fire. (JMT)
(This scene is described on pages 172 and 173
of the early revision of the Sand Pebbles script - CG)